Connie Cornell, JD, PHR
Cornell Smith & Mierl
Connie Cornell is Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is also certified as a Professional in Human Resources by the national Society for Human Resource Management. The Austin Business Journal listed her in its "Best of Business Law 2004", and as an "Attorney to Watch" in 2005. She has been selected annually as a "Texas Super Lawyer" in the field of Labor and Employment Law by Texas Monthly since 2003.
She began her practice as an associate in a four-person civil litigation firm. In 1987, she joined the trial section of the Austin office of Johnson & Wortley, P.C. (previously Johnson & Gibbs, P.C.; Johnson & Swanson, P.C.), where she became a shareholder. In 1995, upon that firm's nationwide dissolution, Ms. Cornell practiced solo until she joined Jenkens & Gilchrist in 1997. In 2003, she co-founded Cornell Smith & Mierl.
Ms. Cornell's employment law experience includes representing employers and management through administrative, mediation, arbitration, and court proceedings. While experienced in defending a myriad of claims, as one of Austin’s most experienced female employment attorney, she is most often called upon to defend allegations of sexual harassment. Other law firms engage her to conduct in-house harassment investigations of allegations made against executives of their corporate client. Ms. Cornell also advises clients on day-to-day employment issues and works with them to develop litigation prevention policies and practices. Her in-house training for management on sexual harassment and how to avoid getting sued by employees is immensely popular.
A native Austinite, Ms. Cornell attended Southwestern University where she received her B.A., summa cum laude, in 1982. She returned to Austin and earned her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1985. Ms. Cornell is a member of the Austin Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section (Chair 1998-1999; Officer/Director 1995-2000). She is licensed to practice in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas.
Articles by Connie Cornell
"Employment Policies Help Level the Playing Field"
Texas Lawyer, Vol. 22 / August 1, 2005
"State and Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws"
Texas Bar Journal, Vol. 67 / Number 1 / January 2004
"What Should a Company Do Legally to Prepare for Layoffs?"
Austin Business Journal, January 31, 2003
"FMLA: Know Your Rights & Benefits"
@Law, Winter 2001-2
"Its Not An Invasion of Privacy at the Office"
Austin Business Journal, February 9, 2001
"Top 10 Ways to Protect Proprietary Assets from Employees"
Hire Authority, Winter 2000
"Honesty Is the Best Policy, Except in Cases of Theft"
Hire Authority, Winter 2000
"Love Contracts Used for Workplace Romances"
Austin Business Journal, July 16, 1999
"When You Fire a Thief, Be Careful What You Say"
Austin Business Journal, May 6, 1999
"Don't Let Former Employees Spill Your Company's Secrets"
Austin Business Journal, July 14, 1997
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